Slavic honorifics: Difference between revisions

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Speakers of Slavic languages use two main sets of honorifics. West Slavs and Ukrainians use the title of Pan, South Slavs and Russians use Gospodin, while Belarusians use either Pan or Spadar (a simplified version of Haspadar, which is related to Gospodin). Lithuanians, although not Slavs, use the somewhat similar title Ponas.

Usage of Pan

Pan (Polish feminine: Pani, collective: Państwo) is used to varying degrees in a number of countries – Poland, where it is most common, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Historically, Pan was equivalent to "Lord" or "Master" (ruler, suzerain).

The use of Pan differs significantly from English honorifics. It is used as an honorific (roughly equivalent to Mr) before the name (first name and surname, only surname, or only first name) and as a form of address without the name (roughly equivalent to "Sir").

Use of Pan with the first name in Poland marks a combination of familiarity and respect. Unlike "Sir", Pan is used both ways between persons of both equal and unequal rank (a waiter will address a guest as Pan, and the customer reciprocates, much like using Monsieur in French). Using Pan with only the surname is regarded as a disrespectful way of addressing people, even somewhat condescending, when it is used to a superior. Using Pan with only the surname, however, is normally respectful if talking about somebody. Pan is never used about oneself (unlike "Mr").

"Pan" is also used as a kind of personal pronoun in a similar way as Usted in Spanish or Lei in Italian (unlike French 'Monsieur' or German 'Herr', which require the use of 'vous' and 'Sie' respectively).

Other titles

In the Eastern bloc of the Soviet era (except Poland -- see below) the titles changed to the equivalent of Comrade. In the Russian language there also was a title of Sudar which was used without inclusion of a personal name. In Ukraine the counterpart to Russian Sudar was Pane Dobrodiu or Pani Dobrodiyka. Those titles became obsolete and now can only be found in novels. Also, compare it to the Russian title of the head of state, Gosudar. In Ukrainian the youngsters were referred as Panych, which is spelled Panicz in Polish.

In modern times, another title, Vladyka (literally, ruler/master), is used only when referring to a bishop or patriarch in Eastern Orthodox churches.

In Poland, the title pan was changed during the Communist era to obywatel, which literally means citizen. The word "citizen" was chosen for ideological reasons as pan (sir) was historically a title of a nobleman. This was undone as soon as Poland was released from Communist political domination. The equivalent of Russian comrade – towarzysz – was a title reserved only for communist party members.

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-Speakers of [[Slavic languages]] use two main sets of [[honorific]]s. The [[West Slavs|Western Slavs]] and the [[Ukrainians]] use the title of ''Pan'', the [[South Slavs|Southern Slavs]] and Russians use title of ''Gospodin'', while [[Belarusians]] use either ''Pan'' or ''Spadar'' (a simplified version of ''Haspadar'', which is related to ''Gospodin''). [[Lithuanians]], although not Slavs, use the somewhat similar title ''Ponas''.
+Speakers of [[Slavic languages]] use two main sets of [[honorific]]s. [[West Slavs]] and [[Ukrainians]] use the title of ''Pan'', [[South Slavs]] and Russians use ''Gospodin'', while [[Belarusians]] use either ''Pan'' or ''Spadar'' (a simplified version of ''Haspadar'', which is related to ''Gospodin''). [[Lithuanians]], although not Slavs, use the somewhat similar title ''Ponas''.
 == Usage of Pan==
+''Pan'' (Polish feminine: ''Pani'', collective: ''Państwo'') is used to varying degrees in a number of countries – Poland, where it is most common, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Historically, ''Pan'' was equivalent to "Lord" or "Master" (ruler, suzerain).
-Historically, ''Pan'' was an equivalent to "Lord" or "Master". In Polish, it now can also mean Master (ruler, suzerain).
-The use of Pan differs in a high degree from the English honorifics. It is used as an honorific (roughly equivalent to Mr) before the name (first name and surname, only surname or only first name) and as a form of address without the name (roughly equivalent to "Sir").
+The use of Pan differs significantly from English honorifics. It is used as an honorific (roughly equivalent to Mr) before the name (first name and surname, only surname, or only first name) and as a form of address without the name (roughly equivalent to "Sir").
 Use of ''Pan'' with the first name in Poland marks a combination of familiarity and respect. Unlike "Sir", Pan is used both ways between persons of both equal and unequal rank (a waiter will address a guest as ''Pan'', and the customer reciprocates, much like using ''Monsieur'' in French). Using ''Pan'' with only the surname is regarded as a disrespectful way of addressing people, even somewhat condescending, when it is used to a superior. Using Pan with only the surname, however, is normally respectful if talking about somebody. ''Pan'' is never used about oneself (unlike "Mr").
-"Pan" is also used as kind of personal pronoun in a similar way as ''Usted'' in Spanish or ''Lei'' in Italian (unlike French 'Monsieur' or German 'Herr', which require the use of 'vous' and 'Sie' respectively).
+"Pan" is also used as a kind of personal pronoun in a similar way as ''Usted'' in Spanish or ''Lei'' in Italian (unlike French 'Monsieur' or German 'Herr', which require the use of 'vous' and 'Sie' respectively).
-Note also the Polish collective honorific: ''Państwo''.
 ==Other titles==
 In the [[Eastern bloc]] of the Soviet era (except Poland -- see below) the titles changed to the equivalent of ''[[Comrade]]''. In the [[Russian language]] there also was a title of ''Sudar'' which was used without inclusion of a personal name. In [[Ukraine]] the counterpart to Russian Sudar was ''Pane Dobrodiu'' or ''Pani Dobrodiyka''. Those titles became obsolete and now can only be found in novels. Also, compare it to the Russian title of the head of state, [[Gosudar of Russia|''Gosudar'']]. In [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] the youngsters were referred as ''Panych'', which is spelled ''Panicz'' in Polish.
-Another title of ''Vladyka'' (literally, ruler/master) is only used now when referring to a bishop or patriarch in Eastern Orthodox churches.
+In modern times, another title, ''Vladyka'' (literally, ruler/master), is used only when referring to a bishop or patriarch in Eastern Orthodox churches.
-In Poland during Soviet era the title ''pan'' was changed to ''obywatel'' which literally means citizen. This was related to the fact, that the word ''pan'' (sir) historically was a title of a nobleman. As in the Soviet communism every person was supposed to be a common, therefore the word citizen was chosen to replace sir. This was undone as soon as Poland was released from Soviet political domination and today the word ''pan'' is an official title of any Polish male citizen. On the other hand, the equivalent of Russian comrade -- ''towarzysz'' was a title reserved only for communist party members.
+In Poland, the title ''pan'' was changed during the Communist era to ''obywatel'', which literally means citizen. The word "citizen" was chosen for ideological reasons as ''pan'' (sir) was historically a title of a nobleman. This was undone as soon as Poland was released from Communist political domination. The equivalent of Russian comrade – ''towarzysz'' – was a title reserved only for communist party members.
 ==See also==